Headwear having exposed stitches to fix a lower hem thereof

ABSTRACT

Headwear having exposed stitches to fix a lower hem thereof is disclosed. The headwear has a head-wearing portion being stretchable in at least a circumferential direction, and exposed stitches which are viewed outside and are disposed along the lower hem. The exposed stitches are formed by a stretch yarn as a bobbin thread and a non-stretch yarn as an upper thread.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to headwear such as a cap, a hat and a visor cap. More particularly, the present invention relates to elastic headwear with an elastic head-wearing portion having exposed stitches to fix a lower hem thereof.

2. Background of the Invention

Conventional elastic headwear such as a cap, a hat and a visor cap includes an elastic head-wearing portion and a stretchable sweatband. The head-wearing portion is a crown portion in a cap or a hat. It may be a circumferential strap which encircles the head of a user in a visor cap.

In the case of a cap or a hat, the elastic crown portion which is composed of a stretchable fabric that includes a stretchable strand is flimsy and difficult to maintain in its semispherical shape, so it has drawbacks in that it is easily wrinkled or crushed when being carried and displayed. Further, when the elastic crown portion is coupled with the stretchable sweatband, it is rumpled around its lower hem. When the headwear is used repeatedly for a long time, it usually suffers from overstretch, resulting in enlargement of the size of the crown portion.

In order to overcome the drawbacks of the conventional elastic headwear, headwear using latex threads which is disclosed in Korean Utility Model Publication No. 20-0314989 B has been proposed. An elastic crown portion in the headwear is coupled to a stretchable sweatband in chain stitches (specifically double chain stitches as shown in FIG. 7 in the above publication) with latex threads and nylon stretch threads as upper and bobbin threads. Since both of the upper and bobbin threads are made of the stretch threads, they are likely to snap while sewing or wearing of the headwear. Further, when a thread at a particular spot snaps during the stretch of the crown portion, all chains connected to the spot are unraveled. When the chain stitches with stretch threads as bobbin and upper threads are used in connection with the crown portion and sweatband, the headwear cannot be suitably supported by stitches that are likely to be extended excessively.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the prior art described above, it is an object of the present invention to provide elastic headwear which is capable of retaining its shape through exposed stitches that fix a lower hem to its crown portion.

It is another object of the present invention to provide headwear with exposed stitches which prevent its elastic crown portion from being deformed due to long and repeated uses.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide elastic headwear with exposed stitches which are difficult to snap, and that are difficult to unravel even if they do snap.

To achieve these and other objects, as embodied and broadly described herein, headwear includes a head-wearing portion being stretchable in at least a circumferential direction thereof; and exposed stitches which are viewed outside and are disposed along a lower hem of the head-wearing portion.

The exposed stitches are formed of a stretch yarn as a bobbin thread and a non-stretch yarn as an upper thread. The stretch yarn is preferably selected from a spandex yarn, polyurethane yarn, polyurethane covered yarn, latex yarn, and highly-twisted yarn.

Preferably, the exposed stitches are lock stitches.

A stretch tape may be attached the inside of the lower hem, or attached between a folded portion of the lower hem when a lower edge of the crown portion is folded to form the lower hem. Further, a stretchable sweatband may also be attached along the inside of the lower hem by the exposed stitches.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method of forming headwear includes:

forming a crown portion which is stretchable in at least a circumferential direction thereof;

folding a lower edge of the head-wearing portion so as to form a lower hem; and

stitching along the lower hem with a stretch yarn as a bobbin thread and a non-stretch yarn as an upper thread.

The stitches from the stitching along the hem are exposed outside.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate an embodiment of the invention, and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention:

FIG. 1 shows elastic headwear according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 2A-2D are cross-sectional views of a lower hem construction of the headwear of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 illustrates lock stitches used in the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a lower hem construction of elastic headwear according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a lower hem construction of elastic headwear according to a third embodiment; and

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a lower hem construction of elastic headwear according to a fourth embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will hereinafter be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, where like numerals of reference designate like elements throughout.

Referring to FIG. 1, a cap according to a first embodiment of the present invention has a crown portion 100 and a visor portion 200. The crown portion 100 serves to cover the wearer's head, and the visor portion 200 serves to shade the wearer's eyes when the cap is worn.

The crown portion 100 is composed of a plurality of elastic pieces which have elasticity, in at least a lower hem 150.

A stretchable sweatband 300 and stretch tape 400 are provided along the inside of the lower hem 150. The stretchable sweatband 300 is stretchable at least in a circumferential direction. The stretch tape 400 is also stretchable at least in the circumferential direction and is made of woven, knit or non-woven elastic fabrics. The stretch tape 400 serves to prevent the crown portion 100 from extending excessively as well as to support the shape of the crown portion 100 firmly and elastically.

Stitches 500 which are exposed outside may fix a lower hem 150 of the crown portion 100 as well as a stretchable sweatband 300 and stretch tape 400. The stitches 500 are preferably lock stitches as shown in FIG. 3, which are formed by a stretch yarn as a bobbin thread 520 and a non-stretch yarn as an upper thread 510. The bobbin thread 520 of the stretch yarn is selected from a spandex yarn, polyurethane yarn, polyurethane covered yarn, latex yarn, and highly-twisted yarn. Since the threads are firmly interlocked in the lock stitches, they are hard to snap. Further, even if a thread snaps, it is difficult for it to unravel.

Because the stitches 500 press and fix the sweatband 300 with respect to the crown portion 100, additional short stitches are unnecessary to secure the sweatband as in a conventional elastic cap.

Referring to FIGS. 2A-2D, the lower hem construction will be described. First, the crown portion 100 having a lower edge 160 is shown in FIG. 2A. The stretch tape 400 is disposed the inner side of the lower edge 160, and sewn by suitable auxiliary stitches 110 as shown in FIG. 2B. The lower edge 160 is folded and then the sweatband is disposed on the inner side of the folded portion as shown in FIG. 2C. Finally, the lower hem 150 is made by lock stitches 500 which fix the sweatband 300 and stretch tape 400 to the crown portion 100, as shown in FIG. 2D. The auxiliary stitches 110 are not exposed outside, while the lock stitches 500 are exposed outside.

Since the lock stitches 500 are formed of a stretch yarn as a bobbin thread 520 and a non-stretch yarn as an upper thread 510, they prevent the crown portion 100 and the sweatband 300 from being stretched excessively during a long period of use. The lock stitches 500 fix the sweatband 300 to the crown portion 100 without additional short fixing stitches. As a result, the cap may retain its shape since the lower hem is firmly stitched.

Further, since the lock stitches 500 are exposed outside, they may serve to give ornament effects.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a lower hem construction of elastic headwear according to a second embodiment. The headwear of the second embodiment is similar to that of the first embodiment, with the exception of the stretch tape 400. The headwear according to the second embodiment has a crown portion 100 composed of a plurality of elastic pieces which have elasticity, in at least a lower hem 150.

A stretchable sweatband 300 is provided along the inside of the lower hem 150. The stretchable sweatband 300 is stretchable at least in an elongated direction.

Stitches 500 which are exposed outside may fix a lower hem 150 of the crown portion 100 as well as a stretchable sweatband 300. The stitches 500 are preferably lock stitches as shown in FIG. 3, which are formed by a stretch yarn as a bobbin thread 520 and a non-stretch yarn as an upper thread 510. In this case, after the lower edge of the crown portion 100 is folded and the sweatband 300 is disposed along the lower edge, the lock stitches 500 are stitched to form a lower hem 150 and to fix the sweatband 300.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a lower hem construction of elastic headwear according to a third embodiment. The headwear of the third embodiment is similar to that of the first embodiment, with the exception of the stretchable sweatband 300. The headwear according to the third embodiment has a crown portion 100 composed of a plurality of elastic pieces which have elasticity, in at least a lower hem 150.

A stretch tape 400 is provided along the inside of a lower edge of the crown portion 100 and then folded with the lower edge to form the lower hem 150. The stretch tape 400 is stretchable at least in an elongated direction and is made of woven or non-woven elastic fabrics. The stretch tape 400 serves to prevent the crown portion 100 from excessively stretching as well as to support the shape of the crown portion 100 firmly and elastically.

Stitches 500 which are exposed outside may fix a lower hem 150 of the crown portion 100 as well as a stretch tape 400.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a lower hem construction of elastic headwear according to a fourth embodiment. The headwear of the fourth embodiment is similar to that of the first embodiment, with the exception of the stretchable sweatband 300 and stretch tape 400. The headwear according to the fourth embodiment has a crown portion 100 composed of a plurality of elastic pieces which have elasticity, in at least a lower hem 150.

A lower edge of the crown portion is folded and then stitched by the lock stitches composed of a stretch yarn as a bobbin thread 520 and a non-stretch yarn as an upper thread 510 as shown in FIG. 3. The bobbin thread of the stretch yarn is selected from a spandex yarn, polyurethane yarn, polyurethane covered yarn, latex yarn, and highly-twisted yarn. Since the threads are firmly interlocked in the lock stitches, they are hard to snap. Further, even if a thread snaps, it is hard for it to come loose. The headwear may retain its shape since the lower hem is firmly stitched. The stitches 500 which are exposed outside may fix a lower hem 150 as well as give ornament effects.

As described above, according to headwear of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, elastic headwear is capable of retaining its shape through exposed stitches to fix the lower hem. Therefore, such headwear is hardly deformed during long and repeated uses.

Although the present invention is implemented as a cap in the preferred embodiments as describe above, the present invention may be a hat, a visor cap, or other various kinds of headwear having a head-wearing portion portion, not being limited to the cap.

While this invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. 

1. Headwear comprising: a head-wearing portion being stretchable in at least a circumferential direction thereof; and exposed stitches which are viewed outside and disposed along a lower hem of the head-wearing portion, wherein the exposed stitches are formed by a stretch yarn as a bobbin thread and a non-stretch yarn as an upper thread.
 2. The headwear of claim 1, wherein the exposed stitches are lock stitches.
 3. The headwear of claim 2, wherein the stretch yarn is selected from a spandex yarn, polyurethane yarn, polyurethane covered yarn, latex yarn, and highly-twisted yarn.
 4. The headwear of claim 1, further comprising: a stretch tape attached the inside of the lower hem, or attached between a folded portion of the lower hem when a lower edge of the crown portion is folded to form the lower hem.
 5. The headwear of claim 4, further comprising: a stretchable sweatband attached along the inside of the lower hem by the out-viewed stitches.
 6. The headwear of claim 1, further comprising: a stretchable sweatband attached along the inside of the lower hem by the out-viewed stitches.
 7. A method of forming headwear, comprising: forming a head-wearing portion which is stretchable in at least a circumferential direction thereof; folding a lower edge of the head-wearing portion so as to form a lower hem; and stitching along the lower hem with a stretch yarn as a bobbin thread and a non-stretch yarn as an upper thread, thereby exposing the stitches outside.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the stitching along the lower hem is performed with lock stitches.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the stretch yarn is selected from a spandex yarn, polyurethane yarn, polyurethane covered yarn, latex yarn, and highly-twisted yarn.
 10. The method of claim 7, further comprising: before the folding of the lower edge, preparing a stretch tape inside the lower edge, wherein the stitching along the lower hem is applied to both the stretch tape and the hem.
 11. The method of claim 10, further comprising: sewing all of the lower edge of the crown portion and the stretch tape, after the preparing of the stretch tape; and preparing a stretchable sweatband inside of the lower hem, after the folding of the lower edge; wherein the stitching along the lower hem is applied to all of the lower hem, the stretch tape, and the stretchable sweatband.
 12. The method of claim 7, further comprising: before the stitching of the lower hem, preparing a stretchable sweatband inside of the lower hem, wherein the stitching along the lower hem is applied to both the lower hem and the stretchable sweatband. 